 |
| Power
Play |
15.6%
- 13th |
| Penalty
Killing |
84.3%
- 6th |
| FORWARDS |
| BRENDAN
COOK |
35-29-64
(-3) |
| MIKE
BARTLETT |
17-26-43
(+10) |
| R.G.
FLATH |
20-23-43
(+1) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| JASON
TESSIER |
10-34-44
(-20) |
| DARRYL
McARTHUR |
5-26-31
(-12) |
| JOHN
NEAL |
8-21-29
(-9) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| MIGUEL
BEAUDRY |
22-18-1
(2 SO)
2.68 GA
.920 PCT |
|
| DOUG
GROENESTEGE |
5-9-0
(0 SO)
2.89 GA
.916 PCT |
|
 |
|
 |
| |
Austin
vs Odessa |
|
|
SCHEDULE |
| 1 |
MAR.
24 |
AUSTIN
1 - ODESSA 4 |
SEED
5 |
2 |
MAR.
26 |
ODESSA
2 - AUSTIN 3 (OT) |
SEED
4 |
29-33-2
(60) |
3 |
MAR.
27 |
AUSTIN
0 - ODESSA 1 |
32-24-7
(71) |
| Odessa
Wins Series 2-1 |
|
SERIES
PREVIEW |
|
Austin,
TX
- The CHL's Ray Miron President's Cup playoffs begin Monday.
The Southern Conference best of three matchup features
the Austin Ice Bats versus the Odessa Jackalopes.
While Austin has the fewest number of points (60) of the
10 playoff qualifiers, they have been one of the strongest
teams in the second half of the season. The Bats are 22-11-1
in 2008, finishing strong in offense, defense and goaltending.
The Jackalopes were inconsistent in the second half, finishing
16-17-1.
The teams faced each other four times during the season
with the Jackalopes coming out on top 3-0-1, capturing
seven of eight points. Their only loss came in Austin
when the Bats' Jamie Thompson tied the game with just
eight seconds remaining in regulation. It took 13 shootout
rounds to finally decide the winner.
Odessa is led on offense by Sebastien Thinel (34-49-83),
Dominic Leveille (32-49-81) and newcomer Olivier Proulx
(12-24-36 in 27 games). The defense features Mario Joly
(13-28-41) and Alex Dunn (13-20-33).
Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Alexandre Vincent was stellar
in goal, finishing the regular season 21-11-4, a 2.79
goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.
Austin counters on Offense with Brendan Cook (35-29-64),
Mike Bartlett (19-30-49) and R.G. Flath (19-18-37). While
their numbers don't match up with Odessa, it must be noted
that Austin didn't really set their lines until after
the first of the year. Much of the scoring on their top
two lines took place in the second half of the season.
Jason Tessier leads a solid defense that is not all that
offensive-minded. Tessier (10-34-44) is the biggest offensive
threat. The rest of the defense focus on keeping the puck
away from the net.
Austin goaltender Miguel Beaudry got off to a slow start,
some the result of the overall poor play of the team.
But he moved from the back of the pack to sixth among
goaltenders, one spot ahead of Alexandre. He was named
Goaltender of the Week four times. He finished 22-18-1
with a 2.68 goals-against average and a.920 save percentage.
The series begins with Austin visiting the Jackalopes
on March 24. Game Two will be played in Austin on March
26. If necessary, Game Three will be played in Odessa
on March 27.
Austin and Odessa are two teams that were headed in two
different directions during the second half of the season.
If there is an edge, it has to be Odessa's home ice advantage
where they were 21-9-2.
The winner of this series will play the Laredo Bucks.
The schedule for the round two matchup has yet to be determined.
Contact the author at: mitch.cooper@prohockeynews.com |
|
|
Game
1 |
Austin
1 - Odessa 4 |
| by
MITCH COOPER - PROHOCKEYNEWS |
Odessa
Leads Series 1-0 |
Odessa, TX - The Odessa Jackalopes gained
the advantage in the best-of-three opening round playoff
series against the Austin Ice Bats, taking game one by
a score of 4-1.
The game was anything but your typical playoff game, with
the teams combining for 16 power plays. Odessa made the
most of their man advantages, scoring the first goal of
the game just as a hooking penalty to Geoff Patton expired.
It didn't go in the books as a power play goal, but for
all practical purposes, it was.
The Jacks peppered Austin goaltender Miguel Beaudry with
15 first period shots and finally scored when Dominic
Leveille redirected a shot from the point just as Patton
was leaving the penalty box. Josh Legge and Chris Brannen
assisted.
Odessa extended their lead to 2-0 on a power play goal
just 30 seconds into the second period. Again it was Leveille
with assists from Sebastien Thinel and Mario Joly.
Austin's penalty killing squad was hurt by the fact that
top defenseman Jason Tessier did not play due to injury.
Down 2-0, the Bats cut the score in half with a Darryl
McArthur goal just 34 seconds after Odessa scored its
second goal. Assists went to Ted Vandermeer and Stuart
Kerr. But that's as close as they got.
Odessa extended the lead back to two goals when Olivier
Proulx netted an even-strength goal at the 12:28 mark.
Mike MacDonald and Joly got the helpers. The period ended
with Odessa leading 3-1.
The teams continued to skate in and out of the penalty
box in the third period, but the only score was an empty
net goal by Mark Johnson, assisted by Brian Swiniarski
and Brannen.
Austin had five power play opportunities in the third
period, but managed only 8 total shots. They were out
shot in the game 43-29.
The series continues on Wednesday night at Chaparral Ice
in Austin where the Ice Bats face elimination. If they
do tie the series, the teams will return to the Ector
County Coliseum to settle matters on Thursday night.
Contact the author at: mitch.cooper@prohockeynews.com |
|
| Game
2 |
Odessa
2 - Austin 3 (OT) |
| by
MITCH COOPER - PROHOCKEYNEWS |
Series
Tied 1-1 |
Austin, TX - At just under three minutes
into the first overtime period the Austin Ice Bats extended
their season when R. G. Flath tipped a John Ronan pass
between the legs of Odessa goaltender Alexandre Vincent
for the 3-2 win. The goal provided a satisfying end to
the first playoff game in Austin in five years.
“It felt unbelievable,” Flath said. “It’s great to keep
the series alive. Now we can go (back to Odessa) and try
to get a win there.”
Odessa dominated the start of the overtime, working the
puck around the Austin zone for nearly two minutes. But
they got only one shot on Austin goaltender Miguel Beaudry
and it nearly went in. After that it took just one more
trip down the ice for Austin to net the game-winner.
With Austin on home ice, the Bats had the luxury of matching
up the lines they wanted against Odessa. Austin Head Coach
Brent Hughes opted for a physical game, giving his third
line a lot of playing time. They came out of locker room
hitting everything that moved.
“I thought we could be a little more physical than we
were in the last game,” Hughes said. “So I played my third
line a lot and they played great. We pretty much shut
their top guys down.”
Austin took a 1-0 lead near the midway point of the first
period. Beaudry made back-to-back acrobatic saves, and
Austin took the puck to the other end where Brendon Cook
lifted a soft pass from Mike Bartlett into an open net.
Jason Tessier also assisted. The Bats nearly increased
their lead to 2-0 on a Henry Kuster breakaway chance,
but Vincent stuffed the shot.
Odessa tied the game on a power play goal with just 23
seconds left in the period when Collin Circelli broke
free down the right side and beat Beaudry with a wrist
shot. Oliver Proulx and Mario Joly assisted. Nathan Ward
put Odessa in front 2-1 early in the second period when
Austin turned the puck over on their side of the neutral
zone creating a two-on-one odd man rush. Kevin Richardson
and Joly got the assists.
Later in the period the Bats created their own two-on-one
during a power play. Ted Vandermeer took a pass from Mike
Bartlett and beat Vincent who was faked out of position
by Bartlett. Cook also got an assist.
The third period looked more like the World Wrestling
Federation than a hockey game. Players from both teams
went down all over the ice, but nearly all the penalties
were coincidental minors and no one scored.
The Austin win sends the series back to Odessa Thursday
night where the teams will decide who moves on to face
the Laredo Bucks.
The deciding game three will be Thursday night in Odessa
at 7:05 PM.
Contact the author at: mitch.cooper@prohockeynews.com
|
|
|
Game
3 |
Austin
0 - Odessa 1 |
| by
MITCH COOPER - PROHOCKEYNEWS |
Odessa
Wins Series 2-1 |
Odessa,
TX - The Odessa Jackalopes scored a single
power play goal and goaltender Alexandre Vincent stopped
26 shots to get past Austin 1-0. The win moves the Jackalopes
into the second round against a tough Laredo Bucks team
Both teams were tentative in the first half of the game,
playing tight defense and not creating a lot of scoring
chances.
The second half of the game was totally different. Both
teams amassed lots of penalty minutes, but only Odessa
was able to take advantage with an early third period
power play goal by Dominic Leveille.
Austin goaltender Miguel Beaudry was nearly perfect, stopping
31 of 32 shots, but it wasn't enough.
The loss brings a probable end to a twelve-year run for
the Ice Bats in Austin. Their fate won't be known, however,
until the middle of the summer.
Contact
the author at: mitch.cooper@prohockeynews.com |
|
|
 |
|
 |
| Power
Play |
16.5%
- 12th |
| Penalty
Killing |
84.2%
- 7th |
| FORWARDS |
| SEBASTIEN
THINEL |
34-49-83
(0) |
| DOMINIC
LEVEILLE |
32-49-81
(+3) |
| NATHAN
WARD |
20-43-63
(+5) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| MARIO
JOLY |
13-28-41
(+4) |
| ALEX
DUNN |
13-20-33
(-13) |
| JOSH
CASH |
4-20-24
(-4) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| ALEXANDRE
VINCENT |
21-11-4
(4 SO)
2.79 GA
.921 PCT |
|
| MIKE
GORMAN |
11-14-3
(3 SO)
3.46 GA
.900 PCT |
|
|
|
